This is a page-for-page analysis of the whole book of My Children! My Africa! written by Athol Fugard.
Contains:
- Background
- Setting
- Characters
- Structure
- Main Themes
- Symbolism
- Title
- Page-for-page analysis of Act 1 & 2
o The play is set in South Africa in 1984.
o Apartheid was introduced in 1948
o 1953 Bantu education Act: school system segregated + curriculums for white and black students separated.
“There is no space for him [ the Native] in the European community above certain forms of labor. For this
reason, it is of no avail for him to receive training which has as its aim the absorption into the European
community, where he cannot be absorbed. Until now he has been subject to a school system which drew
him away from his community and misled him by showing him the greener pastures of the European
Society where he is not allowed to graze” (Minister of Native Affairs Dr Hendrik Verwoerd)
o 1955 : ANC adopts the Freedom Charter: list of demands for racial equality in SA
o 1960: Sharpeville protests against pass laws
o 1976: Soweto uprisings – school children protested against Afrikaans as medium of instruction
o Sept 1984: New Constitution – whites, coloureds, Indians representation in parliament. Blacks excluded
from vote. COSAS organized massive school boycott. 5 -6 Nov 1 984 400 000 students stayed away.
o 1985: State of emergency declared by P.W. Botha. 30 April 1985 Anela Mayalatya – school teacher in
Cookhouse, Eastern Cape – killed because he was suspected of being informer.
o 1986: State of emergency lifted
o 1990: F.W. de Klerk announced unbanning of ANC and release of Nelson Mandela.
Setting
Apartheid in South Africa in 1984. Most action takes place at Zolile Highschool in a Black township called
Brakwater.
Camdeboo is a fictional Karoo town in rural Eastern Cape
Camdeboo Brakwater
o
o
Khoena (Khoi) word for green hollow
Pleasant connotation
VS o
o
Afrikaans word for brackish water
Meaning blackish water
o Leaves bitter taste in the mouth
o Negative connotation
,Wapadbergs pass
o Moment of epiphany for Mr. M
o The setting where Isabel commits herself to a better world
Characters
Mr. M (Anela Mayalatya)
o Real name: Anela Mayalatya
o Principal of Zolile Highschool in Brakwater
o 57 year-old Black teacher at Zolile High School
o Lives in a small backroom of the local reverend’s house
o He decided to become a teacher at the age of 10 while in Wapadsberg Pass during a school trip.
o He has a love for educating: His life revolves around education. He wants a better future for his learners at
Zolile High. He selflessly devotes his life to his learners. He believes that education and hard work can help
Africans to end Apartheid. He encourages independent thinking. He admires intelligence – wants Thami to
go to university on a bursary.
o He adores the words of Confucius: Confucius was a Chinese Philosopher and teacher during 551 – 479 BC.
His philosophy emphasizes humanness, loyalty to one’s nature, morality, justice and virtue. Confucius
believed in the Power of words.
o Mr. M is dictatorial: He refuses to accept and understand different political viewpoints which is ironic
because he believes in debates and the power of words. He is authoritative and a traditionalist and believes
in respect for authority. He says respect for authority is deeply ingrained in the African soul.
o He is earnest, passionate and an enthusiastic educator. He abhors vandalism.
Isabel Dyson
o Strong, forceful personality, sharp enquiring mind.
o 18 year old White girl from Camdeboo
o Her Father is a chemist and owns a pharmacy. She, her mother and her sister works at the pharmacy.
o She debates against Thami and realizes that there is so much about South Africa that she doesn’t know.
o She is smart, welcoming personality and easily adapts in all situations. She is however non-racist.
o She is a critical thinker and an intellectual
o She is sheltered and naïve: She does not know many Black people and the political realities of apartheid.
Though she hates losing, she is the “outsider that was being asked to prove herself” Stepping up to the
challenge, Isabel becomes very comfortable as she becomes involved in the school debate at Brakwater. A
very witty young woman, Isabel comes to face reality of South Africa through her connections to Thami and
Mr. M.
o She is caring: She is friendly, sympathetic and warm. She treats people with respect and stands up to her
parents who are nervous about her spending time at Brakwater. She speaks her mind.
o She warms up to the blacks and develops a friendship with Thami.
Thami Mbikwana
o Intelligent, eloquent, popular
, o 19 year old Black boy who attend Zolile High. He has been a student of Mr. M for a long time.
o His mother Lilian Mbikwana is a domestic worker and his father Amos Mbikwana works for a railway
company, they live in Cape town while he lives in Brakwater with his grandmother and married sister.
o Believes that violence is the way to go
o He has a strong personality and speaks his mind: He becomes defiant. He is radical and wants an “all out
rebellion” against apartheid and an immediate change. He stands up for what he thinks is right.
o He is rational: He takes his time to reflect on issues. He is not easily frustrated, he however becomes
convinced as the story develops that words are not enough and so get involved with the comrades.
o He avoids direct confrontations with Mr. M.
o He is a fearless leader: He is a natural leader. He is naturally respectful of authority, but also impatient. He
doesn’t want to listen Mr. M’s ideas about defeating apartheid slowly. He does not believe that education
can free black people from apartheid.
o Generational conflict
o Wants to be a doctor
Rev Mbopa
o Pastor at Anglican Church of Saint Mark
o Mr. M rents a backroom at a house he owns
Miss Brockway
o Principal of Camdeboo Girls High School
o Allows her students to go compete in Brakwater Location with Zolile High School learners
Renee Vermas and Cathy Bullard
o Learners of Camdeboo High
o In the debating team that goes with Isabel to Zolile High in Brakwater
Mr. and Mrs. Dyson
o Isabel’s parents
o Mr. Dyson is a chemist
o Mrs. Dyson works at her husband’s pharmacy
Lucille Dyson
o Isabel’s eldest sister
o Works at her father’s pharmacy
Samuel
o Works for the Dyson family as a delivery man at the Karoo Pharmacy. He is a Zionist.
Auntie
o Dyson family’s domestic worker
o She lives in the township in a two-roomed house without running water and electricity.
o She normally gossips with Isabel in the kitchen
, Mr. David Grobbelaar
o School inspector of Bantu Education Administration
o He wants learners to call him Oom Davie.
o He is a motivational speaker as he gives pep-talks to standard ten learners.
o He says standard ten learners are shareholders in the exciting enterprise called the Republic of South Africa
Mr. Pienaar
o Mayor of Camdeboo
Mrs. Magda
o Teacher at Zolile High School
Stephen Gaika
o Learner at Zolile High and is Thami’s classmate
Sipho Fondini
o Standard 6 learner at Zolile High
o During boycott he writes “Liberation first, education later” and asks Mr M is the spelling is correct.
Mrs Makhathini
o Sells vetkoeks on the street to people waiting for the bus
Captain Lategan
o Police officer who receives the names of the political action committee from Mr M
Structure
Exposition
Mr M organizes an inter-schools debate between the matric classes of Zolile High School and Camdeboo Girls High
School. The play begins in the middle of the debate between Thami Mbekwana and Isabel Dyson. Despite Thami’s
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